An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde. Summary of the book.

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An Ideal Husband by Oscar Wilde

An Ideal Husband is a comedic play by the prolific playwright Oscar Wilde. It first premiered in London on January 3, 1895 and has since been adapted for stage and film. The play focuses on the moral dilemmas of a politician, Sir Robert Chiltern, who is confronted with a blackmailer threatening to reveal his past sins. The play is a witty exploration of the idea of morality in public life, and how one must strive to live up to their ideals.

Plot Summary: The play begins with a dinner party hosted by the wealthy and influential Sir Robert Chiltern and his wife, Lady Gertrude Chiltern. At the party, their close friend, Lord Goring, introduces them to a woman named Mrs. Cheveley. Mrs. Cheveley is a former acquaintance of Sir Robert’s, and she has come to blackmail him with a letter he wrote years before. In the letter, he had agreed to sell a secret government document in exchange for money. Mrs. Cheveley threatens to expose the letter if Sir Robert does not help her with a dubious business venture. Sir Robert is in a difficult situation, as he is now a respected politician and cannot risk his reputation being ruined by the scandal.

Meanwhile, Lord Goring is trying to woo Lady Chiltern’s younger sister, Mabel. He eventually reveals to her that he is in love with her, but she refuses him because she believes he is too frivolous. She only agrees to marry him when he stands up for her brother against Mrs. Cheveley’s blackmail attempt. In the end, Lord Goring helps Sir Robert by concocting a plan to outwit Mrs. Cheveley and prevent the blackmail. He is able to do this by exposing her own deviousness to the public.

Teachings: An Ideal Husband is an exploration of the concept of morality in public life, and it deals with the idea that people must strive to live up to their ideals. The play suggests that, while one may have made mistakes in their past, they should strive to be better and live up to a higher standard. Sir Robert is presented as an example of this, as he is a respected politician and yet has a past filled with moral failings. The play ultimately suggests that one should be willing to sacrifice their reputation and good standing in order to uphold their ideals.

Interesting Facts:

  • An Ideal Husband was one of Oscar Wilde’s most successful plays, running for over 200 performances in its initial run.
  • The play was adapted into a film in 1999, starring Minnie Driver, Cate Blanchett, Rupert Everett, and Julianne Moore.
  • The play was adapted into an opera in 2008.
  • The play has been translated into over 20 languages.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is An Ideal Husband about?

An Ideal Husband is a comedic play by Oscar Wilde that focuses on the moral dilemmas of a politician, Sir Robert Chiltern, who is confronted with a blackmailer threatening to reveal his past sins. It is a witty exploration of the idea of morality in public life, and how one must strive to live up to their ideals.

Who wrote An Ideal Husband?

An Ideal Husband was written by the playwright Oscar Wilde. It first premiered in London in 1895 and has since been adapted for stage and film.

What is the plot of An Ideal Husband?

The plot of An Ideal Husband revolves around Sir Robert Chiltern, a respected politician, who is confronted with a blackmailer threatening to reveal his past sins. Lord Goring helps Sir Robert by concocting a plan to outwit the blackmailer and ultimately expose her own deviousness to the public.

What are the teachings of An Ideal Husband?

The teachings of An Ideal Husband are that, while one may have made mistakes in their past, they should strive to be better and live up to a higher standard. The play ultimately suggests that one should be willing to sacrifice their reputation and good standing in order to uphold their ideals.

Are there any interesting facts about An Ideal Husband?

Yes, there are several interesting facts about An Ideal Husband. It was one of Oscar Wilde’s most successful plays, running for over 200 performances in its initial run. It was adapted into a film in 1999, and an opera in 2008. The play has also been translated into over 20 languages.

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